Indiana Residents Rank High for Food Recall Impacts

Food recalls are everywhere these days, but it seems some states are impacted much more than others.

READ MORE: Illinois Ice Pops Recalled Due to Life-Threatening Allergy Risk

There have been quite a few food recalls affecting our area in 2024, from cheese spread and ground beef to cashews and ground cinnamon. While every circumstance was different, each of the recalls had the potential to cause serious health problems—some fatal. Personally, I feel I've seen more food recalls this year than at any other point in my life, and I'm not going crazy either. According to Neighbor Newspapers, the total number of food recalls has increased by 20% since 2020.

How Many Food Recalls Occur Each Year in the United States?

Consumer Affairs has conducted an analysis of food recall trends using data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Within the first six months of 2024, there have been 237 products recalled under Class I, which is the most hazardous. That said, the overall number of Class I recalls appears to be down from 2023, when 789 food products were recalled under that classification during the same period.

Get our free mobile app

Neighbor Newspapers, citing a study from Trace One, reported the leading causes of food recalls are allergen, bacterial, and foreign object contamination. Allergen contamination seems to be responsible for nearly 40% of all cases. This type of contamination occurs when products are exposed to allergens during manufacturing (wheat, dairy, nuts, etc.) and is referred to as "cross-contamination."

Which States See the Highest Impact from Food Recalls?

The news outlet broke the data down even further to see which states are the most impacted by food recalls. At No. 1 is California, where 40% of all recalls affect residents. Additionally, nearly 16% of all product recalls originate from California, which more than doubles the share of the next-closest state, New York. After New York is Pennsylvania, followed by Illinois, and then Texas. Indiana checks in a little further down the list at No. 15, where over 27% of Hoosiers are impacted by nationwide recalls. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of recalls originating from Indiana has totaled 15, which accounts for 0.7% of all food recalls.

Regardless of where you live, it's important to be aware of any and all food recalls that might impact your area. If you happen to find a recalled product in your refrigerator or pantry, you can return it to the store you purchased it from for a refund or exchange. A list of current recalls can be found HERE.